EP3423362B1 - Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient - Google Patents

Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3423362B1
EP3423362B1 EP17709030.5A EP17709030A EP3423362B1 EP 3423362 B1 EP3423362 B1 EP 3423362B1 EP 17709030 A EP17709030 A EP 17709030A EP 3423362 B1 EP3423362 B1 EP 3423362B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
containers
transport group
notches
shaped
group according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP17709030.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3423362A1 (fr
Inventor
Eddi MEONI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Original Assignee
IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA filed Critical IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority claimed from PCT/EP2017/054943 external-priority patent/WO2017149088A1/fr
Publication of EP3423362A1 publication Critical patent/EP3423362A1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/30—Details; Auxiliary devices
    • B65G17/46—Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/26—Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
    • A61L2/20—Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
    • A61L2/208—Hydrogen peroxide
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
    • A61L2202/20—Targets to be treated
    • A61L2202/23—Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2207/00—Indexing codes relating to constructional details, configuration and additional features of a handling device, e.g. Conveyors
    • B65G2207/26—Hygienic features, e.g. easy to sanitize

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses.
  • Sterilization apparatuses of the known type generally comprise a feed station (through which the containers are introduced on an internal conveyor), a sterilization station (which corresponds to a superheating of an internal chamber in which the containers are located), and a cooling station (which is necessary in order to reduce the temperature of the containers within a range that does not damage the products that said containers are designed to contain).
  • the containers can be bottles, test tubes, vials, syringes, carpules, jars and the like, and therefore can have different shapes and dimensions: the sterilization apparatus must be able to convey them all, i.e., it must be versatile enough to process all the types of container in all the corresponding possible sizes.
  • WO 03/051759 A1 discloses a transport group for containers filled with liquid foods comprising the technical features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • a partition is in fact provided on the conveyor between each container and the adjacent one and corresponds to the size of the bulkiest container, with the consequence of having many empty spaces on said conveyor during the conveyance of small containers.
  • the aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by proposing a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses that is suitable to convey containers having substantially any shape and size.
  • an object of the invention is to propose a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses that allows to maximize the number of containers conveyed simultaneously as a function of their dimensions.
  • Another object of the invention is to propose a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses that does not require complex operations for changing format.
  • Another object of the invention is to propose a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses that is easy to use.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a transport group for container sterilization apparatuses that has relatively modest costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.
  • a transport group 1 for apparatuses for sterilizing containers A comprises a conveyor belt 2, which forms an operational plane and advances along an advancement direction, and a plurality of support elements 3, which are mutually separated and each of which comprises a plurality of shaped seats 4 for housing temporarily respective containers A.
  • Each support element 3 is integral with the respective portion of the conveyor belt 2 on the operational plane and is separated by adjacent support elements 3.
  • the support elements 3 advance integrally with the conveyor belt 2 along the advancement direction.
  • the support elements 3 have a transverse longitudinal development that is advantageously perpendicular with respect to the advancement direction and lies on a plane that is parallel to the operational plane of the conveyor belt 2.
  • the shaped seats 4 are arranged on the support element 3 along a direction that is parallel to said longitudinal extension.
  • the shaped seats 4 have a substantially V-shaped cross-section, such as to be able to accommodate containers of different size within a predetermined range.
  • the shaped seats 4 further have a longitudinal extension that is inclined with respect to the advancement direction, so that the containers A are inclined with respect to said advancement direction when they are moved by the conveyor belt 2.
  • the shaped seats 4 have a longitudinal extension that is inclined with respect to the advancement direction and lies on a plane that is perpendicular to the operational plane and is parallel to the advancement direction.
  • the containers A make contact with the respective shaped seats 4 in at least two points, advantageously along two lines.
  • each support element 3 can validly comprise a base laminar element 5, which is integral with the conveyor belt 2, and a shaped plate 6 that is integral with the base laminar element 5.
  • the shaped plate 6 protrudes and is substantially inclined with respect to the base laminar element 5.
  • the shaped plate 6 can advantageously be made of metal plate (or other material suitable to provide sheets and plates of low thickness).
  • At least one portion of the shaped plate 6 can validly be provided with through holes 6a and/or with through slots in order to reduce heat inertia.
  • the shaped plate 6 comprises a series of concave portions which are alternated with a corresponding series of convex portions, which form a series of contiguous recesses arranged along a direction that is transverse, advantageously perpendicular, with respect to the advancement direction of the conveyor belt 2 and is parallel to the operational plane.
  • the shaped plate 6 comprises a series of contiguous folds which form respective recesses.
  • the shaped plate 6 comprises a succession of consecutive tracts which are mutually inclined so as to form a continuous succession of concavities, which constitutes the shaped seats 4, and convexities.
  • This configuration is very simple to provide, even by using stainless steel or other alloys suitable to tolerate being subjected to onerous thermal cycles (continuous entry and exit in and from the sterilization chamber) and being subjected to aggressive atmospheres (for example the presence of hydrogen peroxide vapors).
  • a nonmetallic element material such as for example a polymeric material and/or a composite material.
  • Each recess can constitute the shaped seat 4.
  • Each shaped seat 4 is suitable to accommodate temporarily a respective container A.
  • Each recess is formed between two converging planar portions of the shaped plate 6, which have a substantially V-shaped cross-section, such as to be able to accommodate containers of different size within a predetermined range.
  • containers A In the case of relatively small containers A, they are distributed so as to occupy each shaped seat 4 of the shaped plate 6; containers A of relatively large size are distributed so as to leave a predefined number of empty seats 4 between adjacent containers A.
  • the support elements 3 further comprise a lower ledge 8, which is advantageously perpendicular to the shaped plate 6.
  • Each container A is housed in a respective shaped seat 4, resting in a lower region on the ledge 8 with one of its bases and resting laterally against the shaped seat 4 with at least one of its lateral portions.
  • each support element 3 is coupled to at least one driving element 9, of the type preferably selected from a chain, a belt, a cable and the like, operatively associated with a drive unit.
  • each support element 3 it is sufficient for the ends of each support element 3 to be associated with the driving element 9 (hypothetically a chain, as shown by way of nonlimiting example in Figures 1 and 2 ) in order to ensure that the support elements 3 can advance in mutually parallel conditions of mutual parallel arrangement and can slide inside, for example, a sterilization chamber.
  • the transport group 1 is therefore suitable to slide within a sterilization chamber, so that the containers A supported by the support elements 3 undergo a sterilization and/or depyrogenation treatment.
  • each support element 3 can advantageously comprise a bar 10, which has a shape that is selected preferably from prismatic, cylindrical, frusto-conical and the like.
  • the bars 10 can move by rotating about their own longitudinal axis.
  • the bars 10 are coupled rotatably, by means of hinges 11, to the conveyor belt 2.
  • Each bar 10 is provided with a peripheral surface on which notches are formed which define the shaped seats 4.
  • the notches have converging walls with a substantially V-shaped profile, such as to be able to accommodate containers of a different size within a predetermined range.
  • the notches are aligned along at least one generating line.
  • each bar 10 comprises at least one plurality of first notches 12 and a plurality of second notches 13, which are arranged on respective and mutually different generating lines.
  • the first notches 12 are different from the second notches 13; in particular, the first notches 12 can differ from the second notches 13 in terms of size and/or shape.
  • the first notches 12 have a depth (and therefore a width) that is smaller than that of the second notches 13: the first notches 12 are therefore suitable to house containers A that are smaller than the containers A that can be housed in the second notches 13.
  • the first notches 12 are arranged on the bar 10 according to a spacing that is different from, in particular smaller than, the spacing along which the second notches 13 are arranged.
  • the bars 10 aligned and coupled rotatably to the conveyor belt 2 are a plurality, all provided with first notches 12 and second notches 13, respectively having the same shape and dimensions, which are aligned and laterally adjacent along respective generating lines.
  • Each bar 10 comprises a respective orientation element 14 in order to rotate, as a consequence of a specific external action, and arrange in the operational position the notches (the first ones 12 or the second ones 13) that are suitable to house the containers A.
  • the present alternative constructive solution has the additional advantage of being able to vary the inclination of the containers A by means of the orientation elements 14, which can vary in rotation the operational position of the notches 12, 13.
  • small containers A can be housed equally in the first notches 12 or in the second notches 13, but due to the different spacing according to which the first and second notches 12 and 13 are arranged, it is advantageous, in order to maximize the number of conveyed containers A, to use the first notches 12 as long as this is allowed by the size of the containers A.
  • the orientation element 14 can be constituted by an arm that protrudes in a radial direction from the respective bar 10: the end of the arm comprises validly a probe, or a roller, which moves along a cam. All the bars 10 are provided with respective arms provided with corresponding probes and are mutually aligned. The path of the cam, on which the probes of all the bars 10 act, therefore determines the rotation of each bar 10 and the orientation of the provided notch 12 or 13.
  • the present invention extends its protection also to a sterilization apparatus for containers A which comprises a feed station, a sterilization station, a cooling station, and a group 1 for the transport of containers A as described above, which passes through the stations.
  • the present invention solves the problems described previously, proposing a transport group 1 for apparatuses for sterilizing containers A that is suitable to convey containers A of substantially any shape and size.
  • the shaped seats 4 formed in the group 1 according to the invention in fact can accommodate containers A of a shape and size that can vary within a relatively broad range.
  • the first constructive embodiment described which comprises the shaped plate 6, comprises a plurality of contiguous shaped seats 4 within which it is possible to house (with a density that is inversely proportional to the diameter) containers of various shapes and sizes.
  • a density that is inversely proportional to the diameter For example, it is possible to accommodate relatively small containers (for example vials) mutually side by side, arranging one in each shaped seat 4 formed on each shaped plate 6; for relatively large containers (for example bottles) it is instead necessary to leave a certain number of empty shaped seats 4 (at least one) between adjacent containers.
  • the bases of the containers A rest on the lower ledge 8.
  • the transport group 1 allows to maximize the number of containers that are conveyed simultaneously as a function of their dimensions. It has in fact been shown that the surface density of containers A provided by the transport group 1 depends uniquely on the dimensions of the containers A.
  • the particular structural shape and the characteristics of the transport group 1 according to the invention ensure that no complex operations are required to change format.
  • the transport group 1 according to the invention is easy to use.
  • transport group 1 according to the invention is relatively simple to provide in practice, bearing substantially modest costs: these characteristics make it an innovation of assured application.
  • the movement of the containers A in particular their arrangement in the seats 4 of the element 3 and their respective pickup
  • a handling robot for example an anthropomorphic robot
  • the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient (A) comprenant :
    - une bande transporteuse (2) qui définit un plan fonctionnel et qui avance le long d'une direction d'avancement ;
    - une pluralité d'éléments de support (3), séparés les uns des autres, et formés d'un seul tenant et mobiles avec la bande transporteuse (2), chaque élément de support (3) ayant un développement longitudinal, transversal à la direction d'avancement et se trouvant le long d'une direction parallèle au plan fonctionnel,
    caractérisé en ce que chaque élément de support (3) définit une pluralité de sièges façonnés (4) agencés le long dudit développement longitudinal, chaque siège façonné (4) étant conçu pour loger provisoirement un récipient respectif (A), lesdits sièges façonnés (4) ayant une section transversale sensiblement en forme de « V », de manière à loger des récipients (A) de tailles différentes dans une plage prédéterminée, lesdits sièges façonnés (4) ayant un développement longitudinal incliné par rapport à la direction d'avancement, de sorte que les récipients (A), temporairement logés dans lesdits sièges façonnés respectifs (4), s'inclinent par rapport à ladite direction d'avancement lorsqu'ils sont déplacés par ladite bande transporteuse (2).
  2. Groupe de transport selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits sièges façonnés (4) comprennent au moins deux points de contact, et de préférence deux lignes de contact, pour entrer en contact avec les récipients respectifs (A).
  3. Groupe de transport selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chacun desdits éléments de support (3) est couplé à au moins un élément d'entraînement (9), dont le type est choisi de préférence parmi une chaîne, une courroie, un câble et analogue, et lequel élément d'entraînement est fonctionnellement associé à une unité d'entraînement.
  4. Groupe de transport selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chacun desdits éléments de support (3) comprend un élément laminaire de base (5), formé d'un seul tenant avec ladite bande transporteuse (2), et une plaque façonnée (6), faisant saillie et étant sensiblement inclinée par rapport audit élément laminaire de base (5) ; ladite plaque façonnée (6) comprenant une succession de segments consécutifs mutuellement inclinés qui réalisent une succession continue de concavités, définissant lesdits sièges façonnés (4), et de convexités.
  5. Groupe de transport selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'entre ledit élément laminaire de base (5) et ladite plaque façonnée (6) sont interposées des nervures de support (7) sensiblement orthogonales par rapport audit élément laminaire de base (5).
  6. Groupe de transport selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que chacun desdits éléments de support (3) comprend une barre (10), de préférence ayant une forme choisie entre prismatique, cylindrique, tronconique et analogue, liée de manière rotative, au moyen de charnières (11), à ladite bande transporteuse (2), le long d'une surface périphérique de chacune desdites barres (10) étant définies des encoches (12, 13) qui définissent lesdits sièges façonnés (4).
  7. Groupe de transport selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites barres (10) comprend une pluralité desdites premières encoches (12) et une pluralité desdites secondes encoches (13), agencées le long de lignes de génération respectives, mutuellement différentes, lesdites premières encoches (12) étant différentes desdites secondes encoches (13).
  8. Groupe de transport selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 et 7, caractérisé en ce que chacune dites barres (10) comprend un élément d'orientation (14), afin de tourner, à la suite d'une action extérieure spécifique, et d'agencer en position de fonctionnement lesdites encoches (12, 13) aptes à loger les récipients (A) .
  9. Appareil de stérilisation de récipients (A) comprenant une station d'alimentation pour alimenter lesdits récipients (A), une station de stérilisation pour stériliser lesdits récipients (A), une station de refroidissement pour refroidir lesdits récipients (A) et un groupe de transport (1) desdits récipients (A) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, ledit groupe de transport (1) passant par ladite station d'alimentation, ladite station de stérilisation et ladite station de refroidissement.
EP17709030.5A 2016-03-03 2017-03-02 Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient Active EP3423362B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITUA20161312 2016-03-03
PCT/EP2017/054943 WO2017149088A1 (fr) 2016-03-03 2017-03-02 Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3423362A1 EP3423362A1 (fr) 2019-01-09
EP3423362B1 true EP3423362B1 (fr) 2021-08-04

Family

ID=64500044

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17709030.5A Active EP3423362B1 (fr) 2016-03-03 2017-03-02 Groupe de transport pour appareils de stérilisation de récipient

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP3423362B1 (fr)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3423362A1 (fr) 2019-01-09

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